UPDATED 2/11: NatlEshipWeek to host immersive virtual reality panel with national partners

"The Future of Entrepreneurship in the Metaverse", featuring the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Aspen Institute, will explore entrepreneurial opportunities in the metaverse and emergent technologies.

National Entrepreneurship Week (NatlEshipWeek) is proud to announce the addition of

XR Association President and CEO, Elizabeth Hyman, as a panelist to the second annual virtual reality panel on the “Future of Entrepreneurship in Virtual Reality and the Metaverse” with the US Small Business Administration* and the Aspen Institute, taking place Wednesday, February 16, at 6pm ET.

“We are excited to be a part of this important panel, highlighting the unique entrepreneurial opportunities that augmented and virtual reality represent,” said Elizabeth Hyman, XR Association President and CEO. “XR technology requires a diverse community of entrepreneurs and voices to help build it. These new technologies hold untold promise for startups,” she said.

“We are excited for the 2nd annual metaverse panel. The metaverse offers untold entrepreneurial opportunities for new business creation,” said Joe Kapp, Co-Chair of National Entrepreneurship Week. “Whether you’re an aspiring, new, or seasoned entrepreneur, this virtual reality panel is an opportunity for lively conversation and networking on the metaverse and entrepreneurship.”

“As we continue to have a public conversation about what a society where everyone belongs and has equitable opportunities to thrive looks like, we have to address ways in which entrepreneurial resources reach more pools of talent all over the USA,” said Cordell Carter, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Socrates Program.

Space is limited for this free event and requires a Microsoft AltSpace VR account. The event is available in virtual reality on Oculus devices, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality, and in 2D mode on Macs and PCs. For more information and to register for the virtual reality meet-up, click here.

Reserve Your Spot

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National Entrepreneurship Week was congressionally chartered in 2006 to take place annually the third week of February. It was relaunched in 2015 as NatlEshipWeek to engage communities across the United States. NatlEshipWeek 2021 will take place February 13-20 to engage a network of partners from Maui to Miami. For more information on NatlEshipWeek, visit www.natleshipweek.org.

The XR Association XRA is leading the way for the responsible development and adoption of XR by convening stakeholders, developing best practices and research, and advocating on behalf of our members and the greater XR industry. The XRA represents the broad ecosystem of the XR industry including headset manufacturers, technology platforms, component and peripheral companies, internet infrastructure companies, enterprise solution providers, and corporate end-users. The founders of XRA are Google, HTC Vive, Microsoft, Oculus from Facebook, and Sony Interactive Entertainment.

The Aspen Institute Socrates Program provides a forum for emerging leaders from various professions to convene and explore contemporary issues through expert-moderated dialogue. Socrates also provides the opportunity for participants to enter into a diverse professional network, and into the broader range of the Aspen Institute’s programs.

The SBA The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.­

*SBA's participation or support is not an endorsement of any product, service, or entity.

National Entrepreneurship Week Announces Partnership with Economic Impact Catalyst

New partnership accelerates infrastructure to build national startup ecosystem and support new business creation.

National Entrepreneurship Week (NatlEshipWeek), a congressionally chartered annual initiative, announces a multi-year partnership with Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC), a Tampa-based minority-owned small business that provides technology and market research solutions for entrepreneurship-led economic development. The partnership with EIC advances National Entrepreneurship Week by establishing the nation’s first technology-enabled infrastructure dedicated to entrepreneurship. National Entrepreneurship Week hosts a series of events (February 12-19, 2022) that are open to the public and free to attend.

“We are excited to partner with EIC and have an entrepreneurial ecosystem platform that supports the broad array of nonprofits, colleges, universities, accelerators and governments across the country, who in turn support America’s entrepreneurs,” said Joe Kapp, Co-Chair of National Entrepreneurship Week. “New businesses have been the catalyst of net new jobs and as a result of the COVID pandemic more people than ever are turning to entrepreneurship to increase their personal income and work-life flexibility.”

“Entrepreneurship is critical to America’s national economic strategy and the fight for equitable wealth creation in our country,” said EIC’s CEO David Ponraj. Our plans to form long-lasting infrastructure for entrepreneurship will further our mission to democratize entrepreneurial opportunity in this country.”

About National Entrepreneurship Week

National Entrepreneurship Week democratizes entrepreneurship and is dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the diverse voices of entrepreneurship across the United States. The annual initiative was founded in 2006 through a bi-partisan congressional charter. Local and state organizations and government agencies interested in joining the ecosystem, participating in the initiative, or listing events for a national audience may learn more at: https://www.natleshipweek.org.

About Economic Impact Catalyst

Economic Impact Catalyst creates best-in-class, technology-enabled solutions to support entrepreneurship-led economic development. We work in more than 100 markets in the United States to help entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities build wealth, autonomy, and improve outcomes for their communities. In addition to access to the Startup Space platform, we provide meaningful data and surveys to help our clients understand their impact and drive policy. Learn more about our solutions, our mission, and our clients at www.economicimpactcatalyst.com.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses to Sponsor National Entrepreneurship Week 2022

National Entrepreneurship Week is excited to announce Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses as a sponsor for National Entrepreneurship Week 2022.

“We are thrilled to have Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses support National Entrepreneurship Week this year,” said Joe Kapp, Co-Chair of National Entrepreneurship Week and Co-Founder of the National Center for Resource Development, a 501c3 nonprofit. National Entrepreneurship Week was congressionally chartered in 2006 as an annual week dedicated to celebrating and engaging the diverse voices of entrepreneurship across the United States.

“In 2017, National Entrepreneurship Week relaunched to bring together the nation’s diverse network of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial ecosystem builders and educators from Maui to Miami to Maine to educate, engage, and build equitable access to America’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.”

“Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is proud to be a partner of the 2022 National Entrepreneurship Week.,” said Jessica Taylor, National Director of 10,000 Small Businesses and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. “Entrepreneurs are the drivers of new jobs, innovation and creativity throughout our economy. We are pleased to support this annual event and work together to strengthen entrepreneurs across the country.”

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses provides business education, pathways to capital, and business support services for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Participants develop an actionable growth plan for their business with the help of advisors and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs. The program is delivered at no cost to the participants. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses partners with Babson College and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) to reach and train entrepreneurs across the country.

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses represents over 12,000 business owners, across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, who employ 200,000 people and represent more than $14B in total revenue.

ICIC drives inclusive economic prosperity in under-resourced communities through innovative research and programs to create jobs, income, and wealth for local residents.

ICIC is the National Outreach and Recruitment Partner for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. Babson College empowers entrepreneurial leaders who create, grow and steward sustainable economic and social value – everywhere. Babson College is the National Academic Partner for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program.

National Entrepreneurship Week democratizes entrepreneurship and is dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the diverse voices of entrepreneurship across the United States. The annual initiative was founded in 2006 through a bi-partisan congressional charter.For more information, visit www.natleshipweek.org.